We’re suckers for a great love story, aren’t you? You know the familiar premise, two souls, out there in the world, slowly winding their way toward each other, waiting for that moment when they meet and realize that they were meant to be together all along.  Then of course, the best part, they proceed to live happily ever after. Now this particular love story is indeed about soul mates, albeit not in the traditional sense. In this case, instead of lovers we have two very unique and talented women, Edyta Szyszlo and Vana Chupp, who share a love of all things craft, paper, and design. Untraditional is what they do best!

While fate was biding it’s time, waiting for the perfect moment to introduce our two heroines, Edyta & Vana were keeping quite busy honing their respective talents, Edyta, as a highly sought-after wedding and product photographer and Vana as a design expert of all things paper. They’d spent their young careers perfecting very unique skills and generally dazzling everyone they met with their undeniable style and charm.  Then one day the stars aligned, and they met.

It wasn’t long before inspiration struck and their love-child, Smitten Sticks, was born. Edyta, forever on the hunt for creative, quirky and clever props for her brides and grooms to incorporate into their wedding photos, had become frustrated by the lack of polished while still charming options available. It dawned on her that in order to get the quality and aesthetic that she and her clients demand, she’d just have to make them herself!  She had the inspiration and Vana was the perfect partner to make her vision come to life.

Together they created Smitten Sticks, handmade paper expressions, mustaches and the like, mounted on a stick for easy handholding. They’re simple, playful and perfect for creating those fun moments just begging to be captured, whether it’s during a wedding, birthday party or any other celebration rife with photo ops. Luckily for all those indie brides and creative party planners out there, Edyta & Vana are sharing their baby with the world!  Available on Etsy, Smitten Sticks are sold in kits and are easily assembled. Perfect for wedding photobooths, favors or polaroids, Smitten Sticks are for the couple who are planning a unique, imaginative and most importantly, a fun-filled celebration. After all, who knows happily ever after better than these ladies?  

Smitten Sticks - for the silly in love!